Glowing with Pride

The medals may have caught the light, but for the track and field team, the season’s brightest moment came when they could celebrate together.

Winning the county championship marked the culmination of years of training, growth and trust. For Jason Smith (‘27), who played a key role in the county victory and won the 200-meter state championship, the season represented more than a collection of medals. “Being able to experience all these wins with my teammates, it’s not even just about the medals,” Smith said. “It’s also about the growth and the years we’ve been building this program. It’s just amazing to see it all come together.”

That growth came from more than hours on the track. Athletes credited their teammates and coaches for their support. Nathaniel Aduwu (‘28), Coach Rogers provided support as he adjusted to competing in different events. “Since freshman year, he has helped me transition from one event to another, and during that whole process, he supported me through it all,” Aduwu said. “With his help, throughout that season, I progressed in my abilities and ended up going to nationals.”

The team’s sense of community became especially clear after the county championship. With the competition finished, athletes who had spent the day racing against one another found themselves celebrating together. “They were turning music on, and everybody was laughing,” Ella Linera Feliciano (‘28) said. “It didn’t matter what school you were from. A song in a different language was playing, and they were all singing it together. Even if I couldn’t understand the language, I could understand how much this meant and how they all felt.”

For a team that finished the season with county and regional victories, state medals and national-level competition, there was plenty to celebrate. But the athletes measured their season in more than finishes and medals. Years of work had finally come together—not only in what they won, but in who stood beside them when they did.